Sector 137 take to the streets demanding relocation of ‘landfill site’

They said that for the last two years, they have been facing several problems because of the stench emanating from the area. Though the site falls in Sector 138, it is located adjacent to the residential complexes of Sector 137.

Residents, holding placards and banners, assembled near Logix Group’s Blossom County and marched to the site, which is around ten acres of vacant land. Residents raised slogans against Noida authority for not cleaning the site.(Virendra Singh Gosain/HT PHOTO)

Over a hundred residents from societies of Sector 137 protested against the Noida authority on Saturday for failing to shift a dumping yard in Sector 138, which they alleged is turning into a landfill site.

Residents, holding placards and banners, assembled near Logix Group’s Blossom County and marched to the site, which is around ten acres of vacant land. Residents raised slogans against Noida authority for not cleaning the site.

They said that for the last two years, they have been facing several problems because of the stench emanating from the area. Though the site falls in Sector 138, it is located adjacent to the residential complexes of Sector 137.

Residents alleged that during monsoon, the site turns into a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. The protesters demanded that the site be cleaned and said that it will take the shape of the Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi.

“In September 2016, we held a meeting with then deputy chief executive officer Saumya Srivastava and he had assured that there will be no dumping of garbage. However, no action was ever taken on the ground. We recently met the chief executive officer of Noida authority, Amit Mohan Prasad, but he clearly refused to stop the practice,” said Sandeep Ohri, a resident of Purvanchal Royal Park.

During the march to the site, residents formed a human chain and protested for one hour. They threatened to go on a hunger strike if their demands are not met.

They claimed more than a hundred trolleys unload garbage collected from various corners of Noida in the site during the night.

The chief executive officer Noida authority, Amit Mohan Prasad said, “The garbage is being dumped (on the plot) for years. This has not been created overnight. It will not be shifted as we do not have any other site in Noida. Garbage will continue to be dumped here.”

Residents, however, said that there was no mention of the site in the master plan when they booked their flats. They said that dumping of garbage at the site is affecting the health of around 20,000 residents in the area.

“The site is illegal and is in violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines. Accumulation of waste is contaminating the groundwater. Last year, nine people suffered from dengue and malaria. Four of them died but no cognizance of the issue has been taken and the authority continues to be tight-lipped,” Gourav Gupta, a resident of Paras Tierea, said.